DNAqua-Net: A platform for (young) water professionals interested in DNA-based biomonitoring and bioassessment
| dc.contributor.author | Geerts, A. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Weigand, A. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mergen, P. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Leese, F. | |
| dc.date | 2017 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-03-14T13:14:02Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-03-14T13:14:02Z | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://orfeo.belnet.be/handle/internal/11798 | |
| dc.description | The existence of water is vital to all life on Earth. Unfortunately, water resources face increasing pressures due to the exponential expansion of and resource exploitation by human beings. The consequences of this on water ecosystems represent hallmarks of the Anthropocene such as chemical pollution, warming, scarcity of clean drinking water, ocean acidification and a dramatic loss of biodiversity. As a consequence, the direct and indirect benefits humanity obtained from these ecosystems as cheap services such as clean water, biomass production, climate regulation and matter fluxes are increasingly at risk. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to assess the ecological state of aquatic ecosystems, to protect and manage them in a sustainable way. In order to assess the ecological status of a given water body, aquatic biodiversity data are collected by morphological identification of bioindicator species and comparison of obtained species lists to those of fairly natural reference water bodies. The quantified mismatch guides subsequent management actions. On an European level, standard (so far morphologically-based) bioassessments are e.g. implemented in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) or Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). While the implementation of biomonitoring programs is already a great success, there is room for improvement. In the field of molecular genetics, revolutionary high-throughput DNA-based analyses have been developed. These can be applied to assess taxon lists of hundreds to many thousands at once and greatly improve speed and accuracy of assessments. However, while these novel genetic tools have raised a lot of attraction, they are not implemented in any of the regular legal biomonitoring programs. In order to change this, the EU COST Action CA15219 'DNAqua-Net' (http://DNAqua.Net) was launched in November 2016. The Action aims at nucleating existing knowledge and complementing those standard procedures by developing and implementing these novel genomic DNA-based approaches for biomonitoring and bioassessment. The Action comprises five working groups (WGs): 'WG1: DNA Barcode References'; 'WG2: Biotic Indices & Metrics'; 'WG3: Lab & Field Protocols'; 'WG4: Data Analysis & Storage' and 'WG5: Implementation Strategies & Legal Issues'. It provides a platform for training of the next generation of European researchers, water managers, politicians, and other stakeholders, preparing them for the new technologies. Funding opportunities exist for several networking activities, such as workshops, conferences, training schools, or the international knowledge exchange via short-term scientific missions. | |
| dc.language | eng | |
| dc.publisher | International Water Association | |
| dc.title | DNAqua-Net: A platform for (young) water professionals interested in DNA-based biomonitoring and bioassessment | |
| dc.type | Conference | |
| dc.subject.frascati | Environmental biotechnology | |
| dc.subject.frascati | Biological sciences | |
| dc.subject.frascati | Earth and related Environmental sciences | |
| dc.audience | Scientific | |
| dc.subject.free | Invertebrates | |
| dc.source.title | Benelux Young Water Professionals 5th Regional Conference | |
| Orfeo.peerreviewed | No | |
| dc.identifier.rmca | 5184 |
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